right now, much of the international community is focused on the conflict in syria. u.s. president barack obama in his address called for world leaders to end the regime of bashar al assad. >> the emir of qater, which is reportedly spending symbols -- emir of qatar, reportedly funding rebels, went so far as to say the regime should be taken down. russia and china indicated they have no intention of abandoning assad. >> the conflict in syria overshadowed every other topic at the opening of the general assembly in new york. the u.n. security council remains divided over sanctions against damascus, which have been blocked by syrian allies. u.n. secretary-general ban ki- moon renewed his call for sanctions against syria. >> this is a serious and growing international -- that to international security. >> he said the council could no longer turn a blind eye to syria where he said the conflict has claimed 27,000 lives. u.s. president barack obama also condemned the violence. >> in syria, the future must not belong to a dictator who massacres his people. if there is a cause that